Miami Beach Police Will Help You Find Best Friend

MIAMI BEACH, FL — The experts in finding missing people can apparently also help you find a new best friend — of the four-legged variety. The Miami Beach Police Department will be doing its part on Friday to make the community a happier place with a special pet adoption event at police headquarters. The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"We are so excited for Miami-Dade County Animal Services to be here tomorrow," the department tweeted on Thursday ahead of the event. (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Miami Beach Patch.)

The department also has a number of its own K-9s who make their home at the station. But Friday is National Take Your Dog to Work Day so the Miami Beach police station may be even noisier than usual.

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"We are on a quest to help you find a furry friend and a furry friend find a forever home," police added on social media.

The HOPE Express Adoption Unit will be at the Miami Beach Police Department at 1100 Washington Avenue in the Major James Smith Community Room.

Here's what you'll need to bring:

• Proof of current address.
• Form of payment, which will help cover the costs of caring for homeless pets. They take cash, Visa, MasterCard or a personal check with valid I.D.
• A collar and a leash if you are taking home a dog or puppy.

What you need to know:

• Minimum age to adopt a pet is 18.
• You'll be asked to affirm tthat you will provide any necessary medical care for your adopted pet.
• A $50* refundable deposit and a signed spay/neuter agreement is required for a pet that cannot be sterilized at the time of their adoption. The $50* deposit will be refunded when proof that the pet has been sterilized is received in accordance with Florida Statue 823-15.
• Some adoptions may not be finalized until the required three-day stray/hold period — the amount of time before a stray animal brought into the Pet Adoption and Protection Center is legally made available for adoption. A final adoption may also be dependent on the animal's spay/neuter status if you sign a spay/neuter agreement.
• Your pet may qualify for the Foster to Adopt Program that allows you to take the pet home and care for them during the mandatory three-day hold period.
• The number of adult dogs allowed in each Miami-Dade County houseold is up to four on properties of under one acre, up to six on properties up to two acres and up to eight on properties of more than two acres.

Visit the Miami-Dade County Animal Services website for more information on adopting a pet.

Photo courtesy of the Miami Beach Police Department